Today is the day for salary payment. Everyone from the crematorium has come, including the master and Yihe.
I was offered 66 cents, which was twice my father's salary, but I didn't expect to be offered so much.
"Master, I'll treat you to dinner tonight."
"Okay, let's go to the restaurant."
In the evening, Bai Jie and I went to the Da Lai Restaurant. Yinhe was there too. We ordered food and drank. We had such a great time ever. When Bai Jie went out, she actually held my hand. I looked at her, her face turned red, and she let go of my hand.
That hand was so soft. It was the first time I held a woman’s hand.
I went home and gave my salary to my father.
"It cost eight dollars to treat the chef to a meal."
"Okay, okay, I'll give you ten dollars for pocket money, and I'll save the rest for you to marry a wife in the future."
I didn't say anything. I felt very happy that day because when I gave the money to my father, he was very happy and surprised that I gave him so much money.
Whenever I go to work, I feel very uneasy and scared, really scared.
I started to feel uneasy when I entered the crematorium, fearing that someone would pull the corner of my clothes again.
Bai Jie lit the stove, and I sat on the side smoking. When the stove was lit, I pushed the body in and put it into the stove. I was in awe of the dead, so I watched from a small angle and asked Bai Jie questions.
"Why did you think of becoming a refiner?"
I finally couldn't help but ask.
"My father needs money. He's sick and has been sick for four or five years. Maybe this is my best option."
I didn't look back at Bai Jie. The reason was simple, but it also required great courage. She did this for her father, which made me admire Bai Jie.
We finished our work at around three o'clock and walked out of the crematorium. The manager came over on his bike.
"Not bad, not bad."
After he said that, the car didn't stop and he drove away with a smile. I knew what he meant, and Bai Jie's face turned red.
Bai Jie and I walked all the way and sent her home.
When I returned home, my father was waiting for me for dinner. He had been in a good mood these days, but I was feeling uneasy. Who could be the person pulling the corner of my clothes
I didn't tell my father about this anxiety. There was no need to tell others about it. It would only cause trouble for others and would not solve the problem.
Bai Jie and I were in the crematorium, and today I felt something was wrong. Sure enough, when I put the second dead body into the furnace, someone pulled my clothes like a little child, just like when I was a child, I pulled my father's clothes and didn't let go. I shook it for a while, and let go, and after a while it was pulled again, and I was sweating.
I didn't let Bai Jie know.
"Bai Jie, we're almost done. Go back and make me a cup of tea."
Bai Jie went out and I sat aside.
"Who are you? Why are you pulling my clothes?"
No one answered me. I was scared, just as scared as when I first came to the crematorium.
I was a little busy, so I finished my work, went back to the office, and finished my tea.
"get off work."
When I came out, I went straight to my master's house. He was reading a newspaper at home.
"Master, you're pulling at the corner of my clothes again and won't let go."
The master looked at me for a long time.
"Come with me."
I followed the master out the door, he went to the crematorium, entered his office, sat down and said.
"Come in with me in a moment, and don't talk."
I was confused. What on earth was the master going to do
The master actually changed into a set of black clothes. Our work clothes are white, and we have never had black work clothes. It seems that the master had prepared this a long time ago, as if he was prepared to deal with something.
The master went to the crematorium and I followed closely behind him.
After entering, the master closed the door of the dim cremation room and said.
"Just stand there and don't move."
I stood there motionless, and the master walked to the corner and stood still. I didn't know what the master was going to do, and I got even more upset. After a while, someone grabbed the corner of my clothes, and the corner of my clothes was obviously pulled down. The master saw it, gestured, and didn't let me speak. He slowly walked over and slapped me. I heard a "slap". Then there was the cry of a child, and the hand loosened. I was so scared that I almost sat on the ground. There was no child at all, so where did the cry of the child come from
"Walk."
I followed the master out, and my body felt as if it had been washed with water.
"Master..."
"Don't be scared, it's normal to encounter such things here."
"I want to hear an explanation, otherwise I can't get over this hurdle."
"Let's go and have a drink."
I went to drink with the master, and the master didn't seem to take it seriously, and didn't seem to be afraid at all. After the master drank a glass of white wine, he said.
"I was wearing black clothes, so he couldn't see me. I slapped him, and he probably won't come looking for you again."
"who?"
I almost jumped up. Who was looking for me? The child I couldn't see
"In fact, before you came, a child was cremated in furnace number one. Normally, the child should not be cremated, and a place should be found to bury him directly. However, the family had a good relationship with the director and insisted on cremating the child. People were afraid of cremation and hid from it, but he just went to cremate the child. Burning a child will leave resentment in the crematorium, and the ghost of the child will stay here forever."
I shuddered and stared at the master in a daze.
"What will happen then?"
"I don't know. Anyway, he has been here for more than two years."
I didn't expect this to happen, and my master doesn't know what will happen in the future.
"You don't have to be afraid. I was pulled a few times before, but I slapped him and he stopped pulling me. He can't see the black clothes."
That day, the master didn’t tell me much about the child. Maybe this was all he knew.
When Bai Jie and I entered the crematorium, I felt scared as if the child was right beside me. I lit a cigarette and Bai Jie lit the stove. We didn't go out until the fire was very strong. I pushed the body in and put it into the stove.
"You hold the pick, watch, and when the belly bulges, you cut it open."
Bai Jie was nervous, and I suddenly heard the cry of a child, very weak, but I could still hear it. It was the first time for Bai Jie to do such a job, and she failed several times. I took the drill and pulled it open. Bai Jie screamed and turned around.
"You're not suitable for this. I'll talk to the director. You can go to the urn!"
"No, I like it here."
Bai Jie was sitting aside and suddenly said.
“I heard a baby crying.”
"That's an illusion. You're too nervous."
When Bai Jie said this, my hands trembled. It seemed that the child was crying for something, and his presence made me uneasy.
We didn't finish until two in the afternoon, and Bai Jie and I didn't eat.
Go back to the office, Bai Jie said.
"My mother said she'll treat you to dinner tonight."
"Why?"
"You are my master and you take good care of me."
That's a good reason.
"Okay."
I want to see Bai Jie's father.
Bai Jie and I went over there, bought some pastries and went over there.
Bai Jie's mother was busy, so I went into the room. Bai Jie's father was terribly thin. When he saw me, he wanted to sit up, but he couldn't.
"Dad, my master."
"Hurry up and sit down. Hurry up and sit down."
I sat down and asked.
"What's wrong with you?"
"After several examinations, they said that surgery was needed, which would cost 800 yuan."
After saying that, he shook his head.
I glanced at Bai Jie and didn't say anything. During the meal, Bai Jie drank some wine with me. I didn't feel very well that day.
When I got home in the evening, my father was reading a book.
"Dad, I want to discuss something with you."
"Speak!"
"I want to borrow some money from you."
"How many?"
"Eight hundred."
"What?"
My father stood up immediately.
"What do you do with all that money?"
I told her about Bai Jie's father, and she walked around.
"Are you planning to be with Bai Jie? If so, it's possible. Eight hundred dollars is a lot of money."
"I have no such plan. She is my apprentice."
"You should be careful about this matter and think it through carefully."
"I've thought it through."
My father didn't say anything else, and I knew that the money was for me to marry a wife, so I didn't tell my father anything else.
I didn’t hear any crying of the child today, but I still felt uneasy. Bai Jie wanted to hold the body, but I didn’t let her. I also told her to never touch a body and that I would do it.
Bai Jie looked at me and didn't understand.
I don't want to explain it, and the master didn't tell me anything, so I can't explain it clearly.
I finished work at 11 o'clock today. Bai Jie and I came out, changed our clothes, and went home.
My father was actually at home.
"You didn't go to work today?"
"It's okay over there. Here's eight hundred dollars."
The money was wrapped in paper and I stood there in a daze.
"Dad, it may take a while for me to pay it back."
"You believe that your son's decision is the right one."
I looked at my father, and at that moment, I was deeply moved.
I took the money and went to Bai Jie's house and called Bai Jie out.
"Master, what's the matter?"
"Here's eight hundred dollars. Take your father to have the surgery tomorrow. I'll talk to the director."
Bai Jie stood there in a daze, with her hands behind her back.
"Here."
"Master, I can't pay it back for a while."
"I'll pay you back when I have the money. If not, I'll use you as collateral."
I was joking and Bai Jie's face turned red.
I left and Bai Jie took her father to see a doctor.
I was alone in the crematorium, and when I heard the child's laughter, it startled me for a moment, but slowly I got used to it. Maybe he was living in another way, or existing in another form. It didn't matter. I just thought he was from another world.
When I think this way, I’m no longer afraid.
When I tried to light a cigarette, there was always wind blowing in and I couldn't light it. I used up half a box of matches before I realized who was blowing the cigarette. Then I heard a child's giggles and I thought it was this child who blew the cigarette.
"If you mess with me again, I'll throw you into the furnace."
There was no sound, and I lit my cigarette, feeling a little proud.
That day, after finishing my work, I did not leave but sat in the office drinking tea, wondering if coming to the crematorium was a good choice. Maybe I will work here for the rest of my life. Actually, I did not like it at first, but now I seem to like it. (To be continued)